De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 2 page 314
Bernard was born on the 13th May 1893 at Neasham Abbey, he was the 6th son of Thomas Loyzeieur Wilkinson, of Neasham Abbey, Darlington, Durham. Master of T. L. Wilkinson's Otter Hounds, and his wife Mary Valentina, daughter of William Alexander, and brother to 2nd Lieutenant William Septimus Wilkinson.
He was educated at Richmond School, after studying there, he studied Stockbroking with Messrs, Wise Speke and Co, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Bernard joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. on the 3rd of June 1915. He then was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant, Yorkshire Regiment on the 26th April 1916. Sent to France on the 6th May 1916, with the 2nd Battalion, and was at Maricourt where they were in preparation for the Somme offensive.
In the early hours of July 8th, 2nd Lieutenant Wilkinson and his men marched up to a position just west of Bernafy Wood, and at 7.15am entered the wood. When all were assembled they left the wood and attacked over open ground towards the enemy positions in Trones Wood.
Amid scenes of bitter fighting and heavy machine gun fire and rifle fire, 2nd Lieutenant Bernard Jocelyn Wilkinson was killed in this advance just aged 23.
Source : Yorkshire Officers who died in WW1De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
He is remembered in Hurworth on Tees H134.01, H134.02, H134.03 and Neasham N56.02
